For most of the second afternoon at Lord's Middlesex would have felt exceptionally aggrieved that their efforts with the ball had not produced the desired results. Over 80 times batsman played and missed and Surrey nearly escaped the day in a strong position. Three wickets for five runs late in the day ensured a more even scenario ensued.

Two of the late strikes came from Neil Dexter's patient seam bowling - much to the eye rolling of the remainder of the attack who produced consistent movement and a fine command of line to make run scoring exceptionally difficult. Indeed, Mark Ramprakash was obliged to play one of his more forgetful innings - being made to wait 66 balls before moving into double figures, which was greeted with ironic applause.

He was eventually lbw after making 17 in a shade over two hours. Dexter introduced himself and sneaked one past his inside edge. Toby Roland-Jones trapped Zander de Bruyn in the following over as Middlesex finally saw their endeavour bringing reward.

But for most of the day the attack was luckless. The scoring ground to a halt in the face of the admirably disciplined bowling - 52 runs were scored in 32 overs after tea.

"We can say we were unlucky but if we hadn't had our luck yesterday we would have been bowled out for a lot less," said Dawid Malan, who added 26 to his overnight total against the second new ball to guide Middlesex to another batting point.

"The new ball has actually been the easiest to face, it came onto the bat a bit more and didn't go with the swing as much."

Tim Murtagh was the most unfortunate of the bowlers. He opened from the Nursery End, switched to the Pavilion End after tea and operated almost without fail around off stump on a length for 20 overs. He conceded only 31 runs but remained wicketless.

Corey Collymore suffered much the same fate but at least got one to hold its line to Steven Davies who edged low to John Simpson. Davies thought he had navigated through the storm, bringing up a 122-ball half-century, after surviving an hour after lunch where the score limped to 50 in 25 overs.

Davies isn't the most graceful left-hander and there is rarely a sense of flow to his batting. But he showed an earnest attitude that is perhaps lacking in large portions of this Surrey line-up. He plays most of his strokes in a short-jabbing manner. Through the off side he became stronger as the innings went on; a straight drive in Collymore's second over after tea a sign of his growing confidence. When he fell, the innings stalled.

Ramprakash and de Bruyn were forced to play very carefully. Ramprakash, in particular, was given little get-out, save a pulled four off Gareth Berg. De Bruyn was prepared to play to the leg side off the front foot and picked up two flicked boundaries through mid on.

But the pair's failure to move the score along saw Surrey lose their advantage once both were dismissed in consecutive overs. That and Middlesex's late order rally.

Resuming nine down, Malan and Colleymore played for an hour largely untroubled. Malan controlled the strike and Collymore was often trusted with two balls an over and resisted stoutly, allowing Malan to bring up an extra batting point. The last three wickets added 127 after the first seven chalked up 129.

Dan, agreed, Ramps had to slow down some time and, from the peak in 2010, he has fallen a long way. Get out when people are still asking why you have gone, and before they start to ask you why you are continuing. Yesterday was so slow that the draw has just started to enter the equation: should still be a winner but, of any more time is lost, it may be hard to get a result.

dan9
on April 13, 2012, 23:14 GMT

Ramps; 35,000+ FC runs yet 17 in over 2 hours ? Didn't make 1,000 FC runs last season for the first time in eons, a double failure vs Sussex at the Oval - is this sadly the dimming of the light for him ? Would really hate to see him exacerbate his struggles at test level by limping through this season......

CricketingStargazer
on April 13, 2012, 19:29 GMT

A very disciplined effort from MIddlesex, but they still have to follow this through tomorrow. Middlesex added around 130 runs for the last 3 wickets. If Surrey do the same Middlesex could still find themselves facing a significant first innings deficit. With the constant worries about their top order batting, Middlesex do not want to bat again 30 or 40 behind.

CricketingStargazer
on April 14, 2012, 6:51 GMT

Dan, agreed, Ramps had to slow down some time and, from the peak in 2010, he has fallen a long way. Get out when people are still asking why you have gone, and before they start to ask you why you are continuing. Yesterday was so slow that the draw has just started to enter the equation: should still be a winner but, of any more time is lost, it may be hard to get a result.

dan9
on April 13, 2012, 23:14 GMT

Ramps; 35,000+ FC runs yet 17 in over 2 hours ? Didn't make 1,000 FC runs last season for the first time in eons, a double failure vs Sussex at the Oval - is this sadly the dimming of the light for him ? Would really hate to see him exacerbate his struggles at test level by limping through this season......

CricketingStargazer
on April 13, 2012, 19:29 GMT

A very disciplined effort from MIddlesex, but they still have to follow this through tomorrow. Middlesex added around 130 runs for the last 3 wickets. If Surrey do the same Middlesex could still find themselves facing a significant first innings deficit. With the constant worries about their top order batting, Middlesex do not want to bat again 30 or 40 behind.

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CricketingStargazer
on April 13, 2012, 19:29 GMT

A very disciplined effort from MIddlesex, but they still have to follow this through tomorrow. Middlesex added around 130 runs for the last 3 wickets. If Surrey do the same Middlesex could still find themselves facing a significant first innings deficit. With the constant worries about their top order batting, Middlesex do not want to bat again 30 or 40 behind.

dan9
on April 13, 2012, 23:14 GMT

Ramps; 35,000+ FC runs yet 17 in over 2 hours ? Didn't make 1,000 FC runs last season for the first time in eons, a double failure vs Sussex at the Oval - is this sadly the dimming of the light for him ? Would really hate to see him exacerbate his struggles at test level by limping through this season......

CricketingStargazer
on April 14, 2012, 6:51 GMT

Dan, agreed, Ramps had to slow down some time and, from the peak in 2010, he has fallen a long way. Get out when people are still asking why you have gone, and before they start to ask you why you are continuing. Yesterday was so slow that the draw has just started to enter the equation: should still be a winner but, of any more time is lost, it may be hard to get a result.